Annotation:
The author argues that, despite the unlikeliness of an international instrument affecting domestic social change, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) has been a driving force for domestic social change. CEDAW has made a difference in the lives of women locally, the author claims, because international, national and sub-national activists have worked to promote a dynamic understanding of womens rights by considering cultural contexts rather than forcing predominantly western values. International norms are thus contextualized through the consideration of human dignity and self-determination of individuals and communities. The author concludes that contextualized appropriation of global norms is crucial for the implementation of international human rights instruments such as CEDAW. [CEDAW Convention - International]